HECTOR — The Hector Lady Wildcats dropped a 52-32 game to the Conway Christian Lady Eagles on Tuesday inside the Wildcat Multi-Purpose Building.

Hector took a commanding 16-7 lead in the first period, but the Lady Eagles closed the gap to 24-21 by the half. Conway Christian outscored the Lady Wildcats 16-6 in the third quarter to ursurp the lead, 37-30.

Kasey Rook led Hector in scoring with 25 points, followed by Brittany Dixon with six and Allison Proctor with one.

“I am proud that these girls work extremely hard every day,” Lady Wildcats head coach Jennifer Breedlove said, “whether in practice or in a game. We played a great homecoming game from start to finish. We just could not finish strong with five players. The girls are not letting the number issue get them down, though. Once we get to district, we will have help from the ninth-graders and hopefully make a run into the regional tournament.”

Ferrell hits clutch FTs to avenge loss

CLARKSVILLE — The University of the Ozarks Lady Eagles needed a pair of late free throws from Jordyn Ferrell to pull out a 43-41 win over Rust College in non-conference play Wednesday night.

Ozarks (9-9) avenged a double-overtime loss to Rust (6-12) in the season opener last November in Holly Springs, Miss.

Wednesday night, the Lady Eagles let a six-point advantage slip away with five minutes remaining in the game. Rust closed the gap to 39-37 and then tied the contest with 1:26 left. Ozarks missed on its ensuing possession, but grabbed the rebound only to commit a turnover with 54 seconds left. Tamara Wilkett then forced a Rust turnover to give Ozarks a chance at the last shot with 18 ticks left. The Lady Eagles would run the clock down and force Rust to foul with 2.8 seconds left. Ferrell then hit both free throws to secure the game.

The Lady Eagles held a 21-19 halftime lead and the two teams combined for just 15 field goals. Rust hit 50 percent from the field in the second half while Ozarks hit only 30 percent. Ozarks held the only double-digit lead of the game, and that came at the 12:58 mark of the second half when Ferrell made two free throws.

Ferrell led Ozarks with 16 points. Taylor Farmer added 13 points. Ozarks will travel to Longview, Texas to face LeTourneau University on Saturday.

Second-half run

fuels Eagles

CLARKSVILLE — Ozarks stormed back from a 47-31 second deficit to earn a 77-74 non-conference win over Rust College.

Marcus Bobb, Ronnie Dodd and Andrew Cummings fueled Ozarks (6-12) from its 16-point deficit by scoring 38 of the team’s 46 second half points. But it was Jermery Victor’s three-pointer at the 17:01 mark that began the run. Dodd, Bobb and Cummings all scored over the next four minutes and Ozarks found itself within 49-44. Cummings slashed to basket with 10:13 left in the game to pull Ozarks within 54-52. Eventually, Bobb hit a free throw to tie the game and Dodd hit a jumper to put the Eagles in front 59-57 with 6:57 left. Ozarks extended its lead to 73-68 with 2:25 left, but Rust (9-10) came back to tie the contest at 73-73 with only 1:17 to play. With Ozarks leading 75-74, Rust sent Bobb to the free throw line with six seconds to go. Bobb calmly sank both free throws to give Ozarks the win.

Bobb ended the game with 23 points. He hit 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Cummings had 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field. Dodd finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Victor hit three three-pointers to score 11 points.

JC Westside JG 46, Hartford 14

HARTFORD — Johnson County Westside’s Junior Lady Rebels led 20-3 after the first period, 34-7 at halftime and 46-12 after the third in their 2A-4 West Conference win Tuesday.